Tasmanian War Casualties

WW1

If you could spare a few dollars to help with the running costs of hosting this website to keep it alive would be very much appreciated.
Thankyou from Gravesites of Tasmania in advance.

Ray Kenneth Gavan

Born 1895 Hobart Tasmania the son of Frederick Charles and Alice Ray (nee Burns) an apprentice carpenter with Stabb & Son he embarked Melbourne 17^th June 1915 on board “HMAT Wandilla” with the No 1 Australian General Hospital.

He had enlisted 24^th August 1914 and was assigned to the 12^th Battalion but was discharged as being underage and re enlisted with his parents approval. He had served three years in senior cadets and one year in AAMC.

His three brothers all served with him in the 13^th Field Company Australian Engineers.

He was listed missing 4^th August 1915 at Pozieres but wasn’t declared killed in action until 25^th June 1917 even though his brother reported the following.

I had a brother, K.G. Ray in the company, and there was no other Ray and no Toy in the company. He was missing on the night of August 4th (but reported I think on Aug. 5th) at the Mouquet Farm near Poziers. Next day I got information from the AMC that he had died, and shortly afterwards that the Sappers of the 4th Field Coy had buried him just outside the Dressing Station at Poziers. I was shown some of his things so I know this is true.

Informant: Sapper S. L. Ray. 1629. No 32 Stat. Hosp. BOULOGNE 16.6.17

He was obviously very popular within the 13^th Engineers as the following moving notice was placed in “The Mercury Newspaper” by his friends in the Company

RAY. -In Memoriam of K. G. Ray, killed in action, August 4 at Pozieres. Where the trees are torn and dying, And the battle planes are flying, Where the star shells split the darkness, He is sleeping peacefully; and the howitzers' loud screaming shall not wake him from his dreaming, Where the hearts of men are tested in that hell at Picardy. Nobly did he stand the testing, Now forever he is resting, Where the shrapnel shall not find him, And he cannot see the flares ;Deep his sleep, but great his glory, Brief is his immortal story

"Only say I fought for freedom In the trenches at Pozieres."

Inserted by his comrades of the 13th Engineers.

The Mercury 2^nd January 1917

Please note that there might be information from other websites or brochures "reprinted" here- under the laws of "fair use". In every instance -we hope- we have provided a direct link to the owners web site. We do not claim rights or ownership to any of their information. We do thank them sincerely for their efforts. We have in every instance made a good faith effort to contact and request 'reprint' permission. Nonetheless, we do want to be certain that nothing gets lost due to web site disappearance and the like, so it appears duplicated here.

Tasmanian War Casualties, Honouring the past, building understanding.